First in Vitro Diagnostic Kit for Joint Replacement Infections

Ingen Biosciences announced that the company will market in Europe the first in vitro diagnostic kit to detect infections in prosthetic replacements. The diagnostic kit, BJI InoPlex(TM), is built around Ingen Biosciences’ proprietary technology. The kit consists of a panel of new high-standard antigens developed by the company. The first generation kit detects in the range of 75% of infections found in joint replacements, such as Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis.

BJI InoPlex is the first of its kind on the market. The alternative to Ingen Biosciences’ non-invasive serological test is to put patients through a lengthy and costly surgical procedure to open up the knee joint,
for example, and search for the infection. BJI InoPlex, therefore, can offer major economic benefit in detecting, treating and monitoring infection in the joint replacement process.

BJI InoPlex is the first-generation of in vitro diagnostic kit that Ingen Biosciences will make available before end of the year. Through a standard industry technology license, Ingen Biosciences has the rights to
sell the kit in Europe, at first. The company plans to sell to other geographic markets in the future. The company also plans to launch a second-generation diagnostics kit in 2011 that will include new antigens
to detect other infections in joint replacements. “None of the antigens for the test kit existed until we developed them,” said Jean-Pierre Hermet, chairman and CEO of Ingen Biosciences. “Since infections in
joint replacements is a niche market, it has tended been overlooked by incumbents making in vitro diagnostic kits. At present, we have the market to ourselves.”